EFCC Lawyer Okutepa Urges Sanctions After Alleged Attempts to Influence Malami Money Laundering Trial
January 7, 2026 – Abuja, Nigeria
Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Jibrin Samuel Okutepa, lead prosecuting counsel for the EFCC, has called for decisive sanctions—including “naming and shaming”—against any lawyer or litigant who attempts to improperly influence judges.
The call follows Federal High Court Justice Emeka Nwite’s revelation that he had been privately approached to compromise proceedings in the ongoing N8.7 billion money laundering case involving former Attorney-General of the Federation Abubakar Malami (SAN), his wife Hajia Bashir Asabe, and their son Abubakar Abdulaziz.
Okutepa emphasized:
Ethical conduct must be upheld by all legal practitioners.
Judicial officers should arrest anyone attempting to gain favors improperly.
Such misconduct threatens the integrity of Nigeria’s justice system.
Case Overview:
The defendants face 16-count charges of money laundering between 2015–2025.
Allegations include using multiple bank accounts and property acquisitions across Abuja, Kano, and Kebbi to conceal the origin of funds.
One count alleges the family directed Metropolitan Auto Tech Ltd to conceal over ₦1 billion in a Sterling Bank account.
57 properties have been placed under interim forfeiture pending trial.
Malami has consistently denied the allegations and was granted ₦500 million bail.
Trial is set to commence February 17, 2026.
The situation has sparked widespread calls within the legal community for the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) to investigate and sanction any lawyer found culpable. Social media reactions highlight concerns about the potential politicization of high-profile corruption trials.
January 7, 2026 – Abuja, Nigeria
Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Jibrin Samuel Okutepa, lead prosecuting counsel for the EFCC, has called for decisive sanctions—including “naming and shaming”—against any lawyer or litigant who attempts to improperly influence judges.
The call follows Federal High Court Justice Emeka Nwite’s revelation that he had been privately approached to compromise proceedings in the ongoing N8.7 billion money laundering case involving former Attorney-General of the Federation Abubakar Malami (SAN), his wife Hajia Bashir Asabe, and their son Abubakar Abdulaziz.
Okutepa emphasized:
Ethical conduct must be upheld by all legal practitioners.
Judicial officers should arrest anyone attempting to gain favors improperly.
Such misconduct threatens the integrity of Nigeria’s justice system.
Case Overview:
The defendants face 16-count charges of money laundering between 2015–2025.
Allegations include using multiple bank accounts and property acquisitions across Abuja, Kano, and Kebbi to conceal the origin of funds.
One count alleges the family directed Metropolitan Auto Tech Ltd to conceal over ₦1 billion in a Sterling Bank account.
57 properties have been placed under interim forfeiture pending trial.
Malami has consistently denied the allegations and was granted ₦500 million bail.
Trial is set to commence February 17, 2026.
The situation has sparked widespread calls within the legal community for the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) to investigate and sanction any lawyer found culpable. Social media reactions highlight concerns about the potential politicization of high-profile corruption trials.
EFCC Lawyer Okutepa Urges Sanctions After Alleged Attempts to Influence Malami Money Laundering Trial
January 7, 2026 – Abuja, Nigeria
Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Jibrin Samuel Okutepa, lead prosecuting counsel for the EFCC, has called for decisive sanctions—including “naming and shaming”—against any lawyer or litigant who attempts to improperly influence judges.
The call follows Federal High Court Justice Emeka Nwite’s revelation that he had been privately approached to compromise proceedings in the ongoing N8.7 billion money laundering case involving former Attorney-General of the Federation Abubakar Malami (SAN), his wife Hajia Bashir Asabe, and their son Abubakar Abdulaziz.
Okutepa emphasized:
Ethical conduct must be upheld by all legal practitioners.
Judicial officers should arrest anyone attempting to gain favors improperly.
Such misconduct threatens the integrity of Nigeria’s justice system.
Case Overview:
The defendants face 16-count charges of money laundering between 2015–2025.
Allegations include using multiple bank accounts and property acquisitions across Abuja, Kano, and Kebbi to conceal the origin of funds.
One count alleges the family directed Metropolitan Auto Tech Ltd to conceal over ₦1 billion in a Sterling Bank account.
57 properties have been placed under interim forfeiture pending trial.
Malami has consistently denied the allegations and was granted ₦500 million bail.
Trial is set to commence February 17, 2026.
The situation has sparked widespread calls within the legal community for the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) to investigate and sanction any lawyer found culpable. Social media reactions highlight concerns about the potential politicization of high-profile corruption trials.
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